• Team Curse NA Announces Roster Changes for MLG Anaheim

    Team Curse NA, the Curse-sponsored competitive Call of Duty team has announced some roster changes in advance of this year's MLG Spring Championship in Anaheim, CA.

    Without further ado, please join us in welcoming Eric 'Twizz' Servello and Ray "LyaR" Loftus to the Team Curse family! Both LyaR and Twizz come to Team Curse with strong competitive backgrounds, having battled their way to the top of the competitive Call of Duty scene.

    We spoke to Team Curse NA captain Ryan 'Fatalize' Bogucki, who had the following to say in regards to today's announcement:

    We are more then excited to have Eric and Ray on board with Curse. The professionalism and experience they bring to this team is unbelievable. They both have been around the scene for a while and have been extremely successful on every Call of Duty title.

    Our focus is to have a team that can act as teammates on and off the game and with these guys we are able to have that.

    The addition of LyaR and Twizz will guarantee Team Curse a championship seed at MLG Anaheim this year. The team is currently focused on preparing for the tournament which will take place from June 28th through the 30th.

    For more on Team Curse - both our NA and EU Call of Duty teams - be sure to bookmark http://www.teamcurse.net/!

  • Everything You Need to Know About Destiny's Lore In One Place

    There have been a few bits and pieces of fresh information from the team at Bungie Studios on their upcoming first-person shooter Destiny, but with this influx of new information, where does one go to get caught up?

    To answer that question, we created this page. A one-stop shop for all of your Destiny lore needs, gathering up all of the recently released information and tidbits into a single convenient location. Without further ado...

    The Story

    In Destiny, you play as an elite Guardian, protecting one of the last safe havens on Earth.

    Everything changed with the arrival of the Traveler. It sparked a Golden Age when our civilization spanned the solar system, but it didn't last. Something hit us, knocked us down. The survivors built a city beneath the Traveler, and have begun to explore our old worlds, only to find them filled with deadly foes.

    You are a Guardian of the last safe city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Defend the City. Defeat our enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost.

    Be brave.

  • Call of Duty: Ghosts Teaser Trailer Recreated in Minecraft

    By now, it should come as no surprise that A) the Minecraft community is incredible and B) sometimes, the cinematics in first-person shooters can lend themselves really well to Minecraft recreations.

    For proof, look no further than YouTube user FPSNation's incredible Minecraft rendition of the Call of Duty: Ghosts Masked Warriors teaser trailer. Check it out above!

  • Black Ops 2 Free to Play This Weekend, 5 Features You Can't Miss

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is going free to play this weekend on Steam, available for anyone who hasn't had a chance to check out the game to do so without any obligation to purchase.

    If you haven't been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, we highly recommend that you do so for this weekend regardless of whether you have played the franchise in the past. The game is fantastic and a lot of fun to play, especially with friends online. We're thinking that anyone who takes part in the free weekend probably hasn't already played Black Ops 2 in any capacity, so here are a few things that you are not going to want to miss while you have your chance.

    Multiplayer - hands down the bread and butter of Call of Duty, make sure you jump online and spend some time in the competitive multiplayer modes that Black Ops 2 offers. Get your feet wet with Team Deathmatch or Free for All if you're new to the game before you move on to objective based game modes. We recommend Domination and Hardpoint as enjoyable objective modes to start with.

    Party Games - originally featured in the first Call of Duty: Black Ops, party games are an absolute blast. These free for all game modes all have a unique spin on them that drastically distances them from traditional MP modes. One in the Chamber, for example, spawns every player with only their knife and a pistol with one bullet and three lives. Kill an enemy and you take their bullet - knife them and you don't even have to spend your own ammunition, allowing you to stockpile bullets.

  • 3 Features Call of Duty: Ghosts Simply Has to Have

    Yesterday, we ran a piece entitled 3 Features Battlefield 4 Simply Has to Have in which we speculated on a few things that DICE absolutely has to include in the game for it to be as awesome as we're expecting. Today, we set our sights on Call of Duty: Ghosts and the team at Infinity Ward for the same treatment.

    Call of Duty: Ghosts is making a lot of bold claims so far and if the game is going to be half as good as we expect it to be, there are a few things that Infinity Ward will need to focus on and keep in mind with Call of Duty: Ghosts.

    Those things are...

    Balanced Multiplayer

    Call of Duty: Ghosts can have the most engaging and fascinating singleplayer campaign in Call of Duty history and the plain fact of the matter is that most players will never touch it.

    Call of Duty is first and foremost a multiplayer experience for the vast majority of its fanbase. To that end, the most important thing that Infinity Ward needs to keep in mind is strong, balanced multiplayer.

    This means keeping the post-launch nerfs and buffs to a minimum. Every game will require a bit of tweaking here and there after it gets into the hands of the massive userbase, but we'd like to see some better day one balancing. We're talking across the board weapons balancing, where no class is blatantly more useful than another. To us, DICE has always been great at this in Battlefield games. 

    Killstreaks or scorestreaks need to have their cost/reward structure thought out and tested in great detail. The RC-XD in Call of Duty: Black Ops, for example, was kind of a nightmare. It was ridiculously easy to acquire and yet could net you multiple kills if you timed the detonation properly. To our minds, a 3-kill streak should not be capable of getting you multi-kills.

  • Call of Duty: Ghosts Confirmed for November 5th, Available for Pre-Order

    The next generation of Call of Duty has been announced, confirming the rampant rumors that have been afoot since last week's retail display leak. Ghosts will take place in the future, using a mix of current technology and weapons to fit with an entirely new story, setting, and cast of characters. 

    A brand new engine is the cherry on top of this delicious, bullet-ridden sundae, one that Activision claims will redefine the series for the next generation.

    "Infinity Ward set the gold standard for first-person action for a generation, and they're going to do it again with Call of Duty: Ghosts," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "Ghosts delivers an all-new story, all-new characters, an all-new Call of Duty world, all powered by a next generation Call of Duty engine, which is a leap forward for the franchise. Infinity Ward is going all-in to create the next generation of Call of Duty worthy of the world's greatest fans."

     Infinity Ward had more to say on their development choices for the next in the legendary series:

    "Everyone was expecting us to make Modern Warfare 4, which would have been the safe thing to do. But we're not resting on our laurels," said Mark Rubin, executive producer of developer Infinity Ward. "We saw the console transition as the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter for Call of Duty. So we're building a new sub-brand, a new engine, and a lot of new ideas and experiences for our players. We can't wait to share them with our community."

     A first-look debut will be taking place on May 21st; those interested can tune in to Xbox: the Next Generation Revealed on Xbox.com, Xbox LIVE or SPIKE TV.

    The game is slated to launch November 5th, and eager fans can already pre-order for Xbox 360, PS3, next-gen consoles, and PC for $59.99.

    Stay tuned right here for more details on Ghosts; we'll be eagerly following development news just for you.

  • Call of Duty Reveal Coming Next Week, What We Know So Far

    Whatever Activision has up their sleeves for the next great Call of Duty experience, we're going to find out on May 1st. That is, assuming that the promotion materials at the top of this page are to be trusted.

    So, what will Activision actually be announcing next week? Here is what we know about the next Call of Duty game:

    • The title is rumored to be Call of Duty: Ghosts.
    • The game is expected to ship on both current- and next-generation platforms.
    • Development should be handled at least by Infinity Ward but possible Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software, as well.
    • The story is expected to be a spinoff from the Modern Warfare story arc and take place in the near future.
    • MP is getting some changes, including:  dynamic loading sequences, featuring cut-scenes rather than static loading images; sprint to slide mechanic and dynamic map elements.
    • The first gameplay trailer should debut in late May, during the NBA finals.

    We'll be here to cover the unveiling on May 1st, so be sure to check back with us! In the meantime, we've been exploring some potential storylines for the next Call of Duty game - take a look and let us know what you think!

    Source: IGN

  • Four Potential Storylines for Call of Duty: Ghosts

    Earlier this week, Call of Duty: Ghosts was all but confirmed as the next entry into the massively popular Call of Duty franchise.

    With the promise of a new game, and the hints that we have been given over the last few months, we've put together a few general story arcs that Infinity Ward might be working on with Call of Duty: Ghosts.

    Chances are, this is not a totally fresh storyline as we have heard that at least one major character will be returning to Ghosts.

    We could be miles off here, but speculation is part of what makes Call of Duty such an exciting prospect every year.

    Note: this article will contain spoilers for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare story branch, you are warned.

  • Do These Images Confirm Call of Duty: Ghosts for 2013?


    It looks like the next Call of Duty game is going to be titled Call of Duty: Ghosts, after all. Unless the images at the top and bottom of this post are nothing more than an elaborate hoax, we have our next Call of Duty title.

    Rumors have been circulating for a while that the next game from Infinity Ward would be titled 'Ghosts' but they were all but unsubstantiated until today. The image above surfaced on retailer Tesco Direct's website before being taken down shortly thereafter. The question remains, did Tesco drop the listing because  Activision demanded it or simply because the information was inaccurate?

    If that wasn't enough, Kotaku has spotted an advertisement from Target offering consumers that chance to save $10 when they put $1 down on a pre-order for Call of Duty: Ghosts.

    With two pretty separate sources, it seems like this will indeed be the next Call of Duty experience but we're expecting the title to be officially announced in the coming weeks. Stick around, we should have more information in the next month!

    Sources: Kotaku, CharlieIntel

  • Next Call of Duty Likely To Be Unveiled Within the Month

    It's that time of the year again and speculation is running rampant as to what Activision has up their sleeves for this year's annual Call of Duty release. If annual trends are to be believed, here is what we can expect over the coming weeks.

    Assuming that nothing is leaked online prior to the official reveal - a situation which is virtually impossible in this age of always-on lifestyles - the next Call of Duty game should be unveiled within the next month. The NBA playoffs have started and as you might know, the official debut trailer for the last two Call of Duty releases has made its appearance on national television during these very finals.

    The tradition of releasing big Call of Duty teasers or reveal trailers during NBA finals games started back in 2009 with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Here is what the last few years have looked like:

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Second teaser released May 10th, 2009 during NBA Eastern Conference Finals
    Call of Duty: Black Ops Debut full-length trailer released May 18th, 2010 during NBA Eastern Conf. Finals
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Debut gameplay trailer released May 23rd, 2011 during NBA Western Conf. Finals
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Debut trailer released on May 1st, 2012 during NBA Finals
    Call of Duty 2013 ???

     

  • This Lady Stole $28,000 From Activision to Pay For Her Engagement Party

    Working public relations can be a stressful job, especially when you're working for Activision-Blizzard - one of the worlds largest game publishers - on Call of Duty, hands-down one of the most profitable and expansive franchises in modern gaming.

    Naturally, sometimes you just want to let your hair down, kick your shoes off and steal $28,000 from the company that signs your checks. It's human nature, really.

    That's exactly what Kathryn Kirton did. The disgraced former PR boss of Activision UK was sentenced to 18 months in prison after it was uncovered that she had been spending absurd amounts of Activision money to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

    Some of her finer purchases include:

    • Nearly £10,000 on three shopping sprees on designer clothes from a place called Reiss which we're led to believe the Duchess of Cambridge is known to shop at.
    • £2,000 for a hotel stay at a luxury hotel.
    • £1,500 for an elaborate party, to celebrate her engagement to her fiance'.
    • £1,000 to fund a bachelorette party for her and her friends.

    So, what happens to a shamed PR executive after stealing such exorbitant sums of money?

  • How To Get Mob of the Dead's Secret Easter Egg & Achievement

    If you've played any of the past Zombies maps from previous Treyarch-developed Call of Duty games, you're doubtless aware that the studio likes to include deviously tricky easter eggs for players to unlock.

    These easter eggs put all other secret achievements to bed with their complexity and level of challenge. Gone are the days of simply taking a hidden path and unlocking the easter egg or putting in the Konami code at a certain place and time. Treyarch has raised the bar time and time again, only to have it raised further...by themselves.

    In Mob of the Dead, Treyarch may have outdone themselves.

    The easter egg in Mob of the Dead - the Zombies map in Black Ops 2: Uprising - gives you the achievement 'Pop Goes the Weasel' and this is probably where you want to stop reading if you're hoping to avoid spoilers.

  • Black Ops 2: Uprising Launches This Week, Here's What We're Getting

    As you may or may not be aware, Treyarch is launching the second DLC expansion for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 this week and it's kind of a big deal. 

    We took a good look at Mob of the Dead last week and were rather impressed by what we found. The new Zombies map looks amazing, but now it's time to do the same with the rest of the content. The DLC goes by the name of Black Ops 2: Uprising and includes four brand new multiplayer maps as well as the aforementioned star-studded Zombies experience.

    Mob of the Dead

    Here's the premise behind Mob of the Dead (in a nutshell): four Prohibition era mobsters are arrested, tried and sentenced to prison time in Alcatraz.

    Here's where things get interesting, however. You see, Alcatraz is a dark place, but our four mobsters didn't realize exactly how dark.

    Turns out Alcatraz is crawling with a mob of their own, a Mob of the Dead if you will.

    As if that wasn't exciting enough, the mobsters are brought to life thanks to the vocal talents of Ray Liotta, Michael Madsen, Joe Pantoliano and Chazz Palminteri. Honestly, we could stop here and Black Ops 2: Uprising would already be worth the price tag but Treyarch didn't stop there, so we won't either.

  • How to Maximize Your XP Earning in Black Ops 2

    This weekend is Double XP in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, giving players a chance to rack up two-times the normal amount of experience towards their next rank or prestige level.

    Doubtless many of you will be grinding all weekend, but there's a science to maximizing your earning and we're here to share some tips on how you can get the most bang for your buck this weekend, taking advantage of the Double XP promotion.

    Keep reading for three foolproof methods to maximizing your XP earning in Black Ops 2.

  • What's New in Black Ops 2's Mob of the Dead Zombies Map?

    When Treyarch announced the second DLC expansion Uprising for Black Ops 2, we had mixed feelings. On the one hand, the maps looked good and the Zombies experience seems unique but on the other, it was just the same old formula...again.

    Activision has made it a habit to follow the tried and true formula with Black Ops DLC for both of these last two games; a handful of multiplayer maps and a new Zombies map.

    Lather, rinse and repeat.

    With Black Ops 2, call us naive, but we were hoping for something new. Is that what we've been given with Uprising? Let's take a look at the latest trailer for Mob of the Dead, the new Zombies experience and see what's new.

    You can see the trailer at the bottom of this post and follow along while we dissect this new look at the DLC.

  • Call of Duty: Championship Event Floor Footage

    Unless you were living under a rock, you're probably aware that the Call of Duty: Championship took place over the past weekend in Los Angeles, CA. Some of the greatest teams in Call of Duty history were convened under one roof to duke it out for the title of Call of Duty Champion and a delicious $400,000 payday.

    We were lucky enough to be on hand for the final day of competition and you can check out some of the footage we grabbed while we were there at the top of this post. 

    Give it a look and be sure to subscribe to our channel on YouTube for more Call of Duty videos like the one above.

  • Call of Duty: Championships 2013 Viewer's Guide

    The Call of Duty: Championship is taking place this weekend in Los Angeles, CA and we've put together the complete viewers guide to watching this massive Black Ops 2 tournament.

    Everything you need to know for the Call of Duty: Championship is available right here, so without further ado - let's get to it!

    What is the Call of Duty: Championship?

    Over the last few months, qualifying events have been carried out around the world in an attempt to gather up some of the worlds greatest competitive Black Ops 2 teams. From those events, Activision has gathered 32 of the most dominant professional teams in the game to compete in the Call of Duty: Championship for a prize pool of $1,000,000. That's one million dollars for those of you counting zeroes.

    These teams have been formed up in groups and will compete in a round-robin format tournament.

    With the prize pool being split between the top 8 teams, these guys are competing for a $400,00 payday for first place and that's not even to mention the prestige that comes along with taking home top honors at a stage this big.

  • Team Curse NA's Fatalize Discusses The Call of Duty: Championship

    The Call of Duty: Championship is set to get underway this weekend in Los Angeles, CA and our very own Team Curse will be on hand representing our fine organization. If you've ever wondered what it's like to mentally prepare for an event like this, we had a chance to interview Ryan 'Fatalize' Bogucki from our North American Call of Duty team.

    During our interview, we chatted about the upcoming Call of Duty: Championship and what he perceives to be the biggest challenges facing Team Curse.

    What was the biggest lesson that you guys took home from MLG Dallas?

    MLG Dallas taught us that we need to stay hyped during every game so we have momentum. We would be up in maps and not hype each other causing to take no advantage. It as well taught us that we have to come more prepared into a event , we feel like playing league play for so long really threw us off a bit.

    With everyone having now played a major LAN event, does that eliminate some of the nerves of being up on the stage like that?

    I feel like it does , we are so new as a team MLG Dallas was helpful to show us what we need to work on and that was CMPLX first ever event so it was good for him to play in such a intense atmosphere. 

  • Black Ops 2: Uprising Features Ray Liotta, Alcatraz Prison and a Remake of Firing Range

    Fresh from the grave, we have a brand new trailer for the worst kept secret in DLC, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Uprising. 

    The map pack, rumored for weeks but officially announced this morning, includes four brand new maps and a Zombies experience of epic proportions. First, let's look at the multiplayer maps.

    Magma takes place in a modern Japanese village, ravaged with volcanic eruptions that trace paths across the map and will probably burn you alive if you step foot into them. Encoreis set in London, in the wake of a music festival. The map caters to run and gun play styles and close quarters fighting. Vertigo harkens back to Highrise from Modern Warfare 2 or Overwatch from Modern Warfare 3, set on the top of a towering skyscraper, this time in India.

    Finally, we have Studio which is actually based on Firing Range, one of the more popular maps from the first Black Ops. Studio, however, is not set on a firing range but rather a Hollywood movie set with a handful of film themes from Sci-Fi to Western.